Buncher for baled hay



ANIOV. 28, 1950 o, J. DE WALL 2,531,560

BUNCHER FOR BALED HAY Filed July l2, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 28, 1950 Filed July" 12, 1947 o. J. DE WALL 2,531,560

BUNCHER FOR BALED HAY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov, 28, 1950 Filed July l2, 1947 O. J. DE WALL BUNCHER FOR BALED HAY 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITE yAft',.,Ill'l OFFICE BUNCHER FOR BALED HAY Otto J. De Wall, Titonka, Iowa Application July 12, 1947, Serial No. 760,545 (vllavimrs. (Cl. 2l4-83.36)

1 This invention relates to a baled hay buncher vehicle -unit to be attached to a hay baler mechanism and more particularly yto a baled hay launcher Vehicle .attached to a hay Ybaler mech- .anism to receive bales of hay discharged Lfrom the hay baler mechanism; to retain the bales of hay on the spacer vehicle until a group of bales ,is collected ,and then discharging `thegroup of bales to the ground.

In present haying operations, the hay is .put up into-bales for vcompactness of handlingand .ease of storage. Hay 4baler mechanisms are perfected .and in operation which `travel over a eld of cut hay, picking up the hay from the ground; putting it into a bale; tying the bale andthen discharging the bale of `hay unto the ground. Loading rde.- vices are available to pick the bales of .hay up :from the ground and transport ,the rbales'of hay to a conveying Vehicle, such as a truck. When single bales are discharged from a hay baler mechanism, the individual 'bales are .scattered all vover the field in no particularregular pattern, vhence it `is `extremelydicult toconvey the bale :to provide .a launcher vehicle unit to be. attached v.to a hay baler mechanism Vto receive baled hay from a hay baler mechanism, retain the bales/.of `hay on the buncher until a Ygroup of bales is assembled-on'the vbuncher vehicle at which time the buncher vehicle operates to .discharge Ethe group of bales to the `ground automatically and the buncher Vvehicle is 4automatically set to receive another group of bales; a buncher Vehicle `unit -toibe attached'to afhay baler mechanism to receive baled hay and discharged kthe baled hay in a group on the ground which makes it more economical to pick up the baled hay in the field in ithatca bale loader .can -be used topick up all the baled hay since itis in a group, requires less :men for the picking up operation and-can lbe done in half the time required to pickup single bales; a buncher vehiclellnit simple`r in .construction and operation, easy to operate and economical -both in construction and operation; a ibuncher yehicleffthat is longlasting andidurableinopera- .-.tior1,.fr.equiring few repairsand lost timein operattion; a :launcher vehicle. easy to operato that iis operation is automatic; simple in design and easy of repair in case of breakdown; a buncher vehicle only requiring attachment toa hay balelr mechanism and forward motion to be set into operation; and a buncher vehicle that can be siibbllod .ando-persico ai on economical priceflp .carrying out tbc obiccis ci tbc invention -ibcbc is provided o butcher vehicle-coil for baled hay attachable to a hay balermechanism to col- .loci bales of hsv from bbc hay baler .until ,ag-coop oi bales `is collected on the b unchcr vehicle .at which ,timo cbc group of bolos is discharged from the buncher vehicle to the ground. The launcher vcblclo includes c .platform on ibo .bimobcr Vcbiclo lo r.cocci-vc tbc bales discharged .from tbc hay balor which platform .may bc movable .by iorcoof .oooh .bol-s `lssllille from the hay balcr moving the bales and platform until a `group v`of ,bolos is .collected on ibo buncbor tchlclc. The platform may be an endless belt running from I.obo ond .of ibo bp-nobili vehicle to tbc other v.end which codlcss belt fis `connected through a .clutch mocos. Willian axle between wheels of tbc vehicle. "rbc .platform-is movable when the clutch is disengaged ibroiisb o `slip .coupling that allows .increment :of .tbc platform by force .of each .bale lssdlllfg' from .thc ,hay baldi" Yagainst tbe preceding -balc- Tbo :bupcbol Vcholo has a body portion .supported on .tbc axle between ibo '.Wboelsand the clutchis associated with the axle to carry power r from the axle to the platform when the clutch ,is engaged. A shaft is'journaled in the body portion and rotated by vconnection through the clutch with the yaxle and the platform connection .withsaid Shaft soas .to be rotatable bythe shaft. The slip coupling is associated with `theshaft and `allows .Increment of the platform .by the force on .each bale issuing Afrom the hay baler.

-llhere are .means on the .buncher vehicle that are Vactuated when a group of bales is collectedon `the .platform .and reach .the end of the platform todischarge ,the group .of bales from the buncher JVehicle Lto the ground .by setting the .platform into motion. ',Ilhelplatorm is connected with a .power sourceon,thebuncher vehicle to setthe platform into motion. The means may be a trigger'ex'- :tending into ithe pathway of fthe bal-esl and contacted bynthe rst' and subsequent bales of the .groupcto `connect the platform with the 'power ...power source .from the Aplatform' and `put .the

.trigger in the `pathway of the vbales again when .-thelastbale ofthe group lpasses, the trigger. The

tblggor-.illeansis attached to the clutch associated asars 3 with the axle and acts to engage the clutch with the axle. The trigger is pivotally connected to the body portion of the vehicle with one end of the trigger connected to the clutch and the other end extending into the pathway of the bales on the platform.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described herewith and will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a side elevational View of the buncher vehicle shown attached to a hay baler mechanism.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the buncher vehicle with the trigger being shown actuated and in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the buncher vehicle taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the buncher vehicle taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the buncher vehicle taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the buncher vehicle trailing the hay baler mechanism and about to receive a bale of hay being discharged from the hay baler.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view showing two bales of hay on the buncher vehicle and a third bale issuing from the haybaler mechanism.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the buncher vehicle loaded with a group of bales, namely five bales of hay, and a sixth bale still on the hay baler exerting force on the group.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the group of iive bales being discharged from the buncher vehicle and piled on the ground in close proximity to each other.

Referring first to the diagrammatic views of Figures 6 to 9, the invention will be pointed out first as regards the method employed. The numeral I represents the back portion of a hay baler mechanism. Any hay baler mechanism s can be employed and several different types are now available on the market. The hay baler scoops the hay up off the ground, delivers it to a compacting chamber where it is tied with baling wire when of sumcient size. The bale of hay is forced out of the compacting chamber by the compacting of the next bale. The rear portion of most hay balers will hold about two and onehalf bales so as the third bale becomes completed it will have forced the first bale half way oi the rear of the baler.

Figure 6 shows the bale of hay 2 just starting to emerge from the hay baler I and the bale 2 would fall to the ground when it was forced sufliciently out of the hay baler I to disturb its equilibrium. Instead of falling to the ground the buncher vehicle unit 3 is attached to the hay baler I and is towed thereby in the direction indicated by the arrow. The bale 2 instead of falling to the ground is received by the buncher vehicle 3.

Figure 'l shows the bale 2 forced rearwardly on the buncher vehicle 3 by bale 4 already on the buncher vehicle 3 and bale 5 just issuing from the hay baler I in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 8 shows additional bales 6 and 'I on the buncher vehicle 3 which makes five bales now on the buncher vehicle 3 and constitutes a group of bales. The forward bale 2 contacts an actuation means 8 upon being forced further to the rear- Ward by the bale 9 just emerging from the hay baler I. As bale 9 is forced further to the rearward, it also forces bales 1, 6, 5, 4 and 2 to the rearward until the bale 2 forces the actuation means 8 into the position in Figure 8 to set mechanism into operation on the buncher vehicle to discharge the group of bales.

Figure 9 illustrates four of the bales 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the group discharged from the buncher vehicle 3 and the fifth bale l just been discharged. The bales 2, 4, 5, 6 and l align themselves on the ground in a group, end to end, just as they were aligned on the buncher vehicle 3. The fifth bale 'I has not as yet been discharged and is still holding the actuation means 8 in actuated position. When the bale 'I passes by the actuation means 8, nothing is left to hold actuation means in actuated position, hence it returns to its original posltion and stops the mechanism on the buncher vehicle 3 which discharged the group of bales 2, 4, 5, 6 and l. It is noted that the group of bales 2, 4, 5, -6 and 'I will discharge with sufficient speed so that the bale 9 will not have advanced sufficiently far onto the buncher vehicle 3 to be discharged with the group 2, 4, 5, 6 and 'I but will form the first bale of the next group to be collected.

Turning now to Figure l, the buncher vehicle is shown coupled to hitch I0 on the hay baler I and the buncher vehicle 3 is a trailer unit pulled by the hay baler I. The buncher vehicle 3 has an end gate or receiving member I I on which the bales issuing from the hay baler I are received as clearly shown for the bale 2 in Figure 1. Angular side portions I2 and I3 are attached to the member II and serve to guide the bales into the buncher vehicle 3.

The buncher vehicle 3 has a body portion, made up of side supporting members I4 and I5, which may be angle irons of about 3" x 4" held spaced and supported together by cross straps I6. Upright members Il, which are three in number as shown on each side of the body portion, are welded to angle irons I4 and I5 and receive longitudinal straps I8 along their top edges and cross strips, one of which is shown at I9, tie the longitudinal straps I8 together. The body portion may be suitably reenforced as by cross braces 2l. Longitudinal runners Ia run the length of the buncher vehicle and are attached to the cross straps I6 to form part of a supporting floor. The body portion, as just described serves as both a support and guide for the passage of the bales through the buncher vehicle. A strap 2I a mounted on the top of the body portion is bent to serve as a top guide for a bale entering the buncher vehicle as clearly shown in Figure 1.

A platform, which in effect is endless sprocket chain 22 and 23 having cross bars or cleats 24, runs from end to end of the vehicle and are the means that moves the bales of hay forming the group from the forward end of the buncher vehicle 3 to the rearward end. An idler shaft 25 is journaled in brackets 26 attached to angle irons I4 and I5 and has sprocket wheels 21 to carry sprocket chains 22 and 23 from the under assise@ .brackets .29 attached to angle irons |24 and l5. The sprocket chains '22 and 23 pass over sprocket wheel 3io te return under the buncher vehicle 3.

Brackets 3i (Figure 5) are attached to the alli/1 VlOIlS 1.4 and 9.5 .and depend .downwardly and have journaled therein van axle '32. The axle 32 carries .the wheels 33 on Veach end thereof and ratchet slip couplings 3d which are common on Wheels of farm machinery for allowing the inner wheel to 'turn slowly while a turn of a vetated when the cluch '35 is in engagement With axle 32.

Brackets .38 (Figure 5) are attached to each angle iron lid and l5 and 'have .a sprocket wheel Se adjustable therein. The brackets 38 and sprocket wheels 35 serve as a guide means for the endless chains 22 and 23 in their return travel under the buncher vehicle '5. The sprocket wheels 39 can also be adjusted to provide or take up slack in the chains 22 and 23 as the vcase may The brackets 38 and sprocket wheels 39 serve to guide the chains ,22 and 23 under axle 32.

Bracket members 5U, depending from angle irons S4 and l5 `have a shaft l journaled in the brackets 4Q.

endless chains 22 Aand J23 pass over sprocket wheels G2. A second sprocket wheel 43 is attached to the shaft "ci and is connected by sprocket chain de to the sprocket wheel 35 on l When clutch 35 is .engaged with the shaft lill rotates, the endless chains 22 and 23 passing Aover sprocket wheels 42 will also be rotated Aand the platform is made to rotate. A ratchet slip coupling l5 is included with shaft lll, the same as the ratchet slip couplings 34 on the axle 32. The ratchet slip coupling d5 allows the endless chains 22 and 23 to move when the clutch 35 is not engaged with the vaxle 32. As the bales are discharged from the hay baler l, the bales are pushed rearwardly on the buncher vehicle 3 by 'each following bale. When bales reach the platform, 4instead of having to slip the bales alongthe platform, the platform will move, 'without the sprocket wheel G3 rotating by 'the ratchet slip coupling t5 allowing the slip.

The mechanism 8 Vcomprises a trigger member `pivotally mounted tothe angle iron l5 with one arm se extending into the `body portion and 'into the pathway Vof the 'bales traveling through the body portion while the other end 4l of the trigger connects with means running to the clutch 35. A series of openings i8 are spaced along the angle iron l5 and are the openings into which the trigger is attached. The series of openings d8 are to allow for adjustment of the trigger for different length bales. A spring 49 connects with the arm 4l and into an opening 48 and operates to pull arm il to the right and pivot the arm into the pathway of travel of the bales within the body portion. A rod 50 attaches to arm 4'! by a clamp tting into any number of openings 5l in the arm 4l'. The rod 50 connects into an arm 52 pivotally connected into bracket 38 and with a series of openings 53 on the upper end into which the rod 50 can attach. The lower Sprocket wheels 42 are attached l; to shaft fl'l on each side of the shaft '4l and the vthe Clutch with axle 32.

eed of arm t2 attaches with clutch 3.5.. When arm .52 has the upper portion thereof Ipulled .to the right, the lower portion of arm 52 pivots to the lett and .engages clutch 35 with axle 32.

In operation the bales are moved by the ,platform until a group .of ve bales is `on .the buncher Vehicle .as previously described. When it is determined how vfar the group of i'lVe vbales will reach the trigger mechanism is set in the proper opening d8, with rod 5l) beng located in .proper openings '5l and 53. The structure vis then ready .to .operate When the `bale 2 (Figure .2) has ad,- vanced to the position sho-wn, the trigger arm i5 Willbe moved to the dotted line position which pivots the .arm ,4l to the dotted line position storins up a .tension force in the ,spring 49. The rod 5E! moves forwardly, or to .the left to the dotted line position of Figure 2. Referring now -to Figure l, the upper portion of .arm 52 moves to .the right, pivoting the lower portion of arm 52 `into engagement with clutch 35 which engages Sprocket wheel .3l will then rotate through its engagement with clutch 35 and rotate sprocketchain M which in turn will rotate .sprocket wheel 4.3. The sprocket Wheel 4.3 will rotate shaft 4l and sprocket wheels ,ft2 at,- tached thereto .and .in tturn the platform .since .endless .belts 22 and 23 pass over the ,sprocket wheels 32.

The platform will move until the fifth bale of the ,group passes the trigger arm lia. Spring 49 will then .pull the arm il Vto the right throwing .the arm i5 into the .pathway ofthe bales again and .disengfging clutch 35 to stop movement of the platform.

No specific clutch structure has been described because .many types of clutches are now on .the market that Would operate vthe structure and it is thought to 4be -no more than .mechanical skill to incorporate a clutch with .the axle.

It will .be .understood that .the vinvention has been .described for purposes of illustration `and explanation and that changes .and variations are possible without departing from the scope of .the

invention; all such mdications and .changes are intended to be .included in the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. vA .buncher vehicle unit for ,baled hayattach.- able .to a :hay baler mechanism .to collect bales .of hay from the vhaybaler until a group of :bales is collected lon the buncher vehicle at which time .the group of bales is dischargedkfrom the buncher Vehicle :to .the ground comprising anendless belt running from o-ne end of the buncher vehicle to the other .end to form a platform to .receive the bales discharged from the hay baler, said plat.- form lconnected through a .clutch means to an axle between wheelsoi the vehicle, said platform being movable when the clutch is disengaged through a slip coupling that allows movement of the platform by force of each bale issuing from the hay baler moving the bales and platform until a group of bales is collected on the buncher vehicle, a trigger extending into the pathway of the bales and contacted by the rst and subsequent bales of the group to move the trigger and a spring attached to the trigger to pull the trigger into the pathway of the bales again and to disengage the clutch from the axle when the last bale of the group passes the trigger.

2. A buncher vehicle unit for baled hay attachable to a hay baler mechanism to collect bales of hay from the hay baler until a group of bales is collected on the buncher vehicle at which time the group of bales is discharged from the buncher vehicle to the ground comprising a body portion supported on an axle between wheels, an endless belt forming a platform to receive bales discharged from the hay baler running from end to end of the body portion, a clutch associated with the axle to carry power from the axle to the platform when the clutch is engaged and a trigger pivotally connected to the body portion of the vehicle having one end connected with the clutch and the other end extending into the pathway of the bales moving along the body portion of the buncher vehicle, said trigger being pivoted about the body portion when a group of bales is collected on the platform to engage the clutch to the axle to conduct power to the platform to discharge the group of bales from the buncher vehicle to the ground.

3. A buncher vehicle unit for baled hay attachable to a' hay baler mechanism to collect bales of hay from the hay baler until a group of bales is collected on the buncher vehicle at which time the group of bales is discharged from the buncher vehicle to the ground comprising a body portion supported on an axle between wheels, an endless belt forming a platform to receive bales discharged from the hay baler running from end to end of the body portion, a clutch associated with the axle to carry power from the axle to the platform when the clutch is engaged, a shaft journaled in the body portion and rotated by connection through the clutch with the axle, said platform connected with the shaft and rotatable by the shaft, and a trigger pivotally connected to the body portion of the vehicle having one end connected with the clutch and the other end extending into the pathway of the bales moving along the body portion of the buncher` vehicle, said trigger being pivoted about the body portion when a group of bales is collected on the platform to engage the clutch with the axle to conduct power to the platform to discharge the group of bales from the buncher vehicle to the ground.

4. A buncher vehicle unit for baled hay attachable to a hay baler mechanism to collect bales of hay from the hay baler until a group of bales is collected on the buncher vehicle at which time the group of bales is discharged from the buncher vehicle to the ground comprising a body portion supported on an axle between wheels, an endless belt forming a platform to receive bales discharged from the hay baler running from end to end of the body portion, a clutch associated with the axle to carry power from the axle to the platform when the clutch is engaged, a shaft journaled in the body portion and rotatable by connection through the clutch with the axle, said platform connected with the shaft and rotatable by the shaft, a slip coupling associated with the shaft to allow rotation of the platform by the bales discharging from the hay baler by the force of each bale against the preceding bail moving the platform until a group of bales is collected on the buncher vehicle and a trigger pivotally connected to the body portion of the vehicle having one end connected with the clutch and the other end extending into the pathway of the bales moving along the body portion of the buncher vehicle, said trigger being pivoted about the body portion when a group of bales is collected on the platform to engage the clutch with the axle to conduct power to the platform to discharge the group of bales from the buncher vehicle to the ground.

5. A buncher vehicle unit for baled hay attachable to a hay baler mechanism to collect bales of hay from the hay baler until a group of bales is collected on the buncher vehicle at which time the group of bales is discharged from the buncher vehicle to the ground comprising a body portion supported on an axle between wheels, an endless belt forming a platform to receive bales discharged from the hay baler running from end to end of the body portion, a clutch associated with the axle to carry power from the axle to the platform when the clutch is engaged, a shaft journaled in the body portion and rotatable by connection through the clutch with the axle, said platform connected with the shaft and rotatable by the shaft, a slip coupling associated with the shaft to allow rotation of the platform by the bales discharging from the hay baler by the force of each bale against the preceding bail moving the platform until a group of bales is collected on the buncher vehicle and a spring attached to the trigger to pull the trigger into the pathway of the bales again to disengage the clutch from the axle when the last bale of the group passes the trigger.

OTTO J. DE WALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,553,706 Meink Sept, 15, 1925 1,913,533 Brunner June 13, 1933 2,065,973 Jones Dec. 29, 1936 2,316,435 James Apr. 13, 1943 2,327,264 Hendrickson Aug. 17, 1943 2,390,306 Hunziker Dec. 4, 1945 2,410,516 Messenger et al. Nov. 5, 1946 2,448,737 Reisenweber Sept. 7, 1948 2,453,384 Renken Nov. 9, 1948 

